Can blind kids play with toys

This is one of the most frequently asked questions that I get and my simple answer to this is why not? Blind kids do not have to see in order to play with toys. Blind kids play with all kinds of toys and enjoy many of the things that most of their sighted counterparts enjoy. That is, except for those high tech toys.

When I was a kid, I played with dolls. I had doll houses, played ball games with my brothers, rode bicycles, and flew kites. I even had toy guns and played with my brother's toy soldiers and you know what? I had a whale of a time doing all of it. I developed ways to play football and cricket. I learned how to pitch marbles, and I even participated in hide and seek games. Boy did I ever play with all kinds of toys; from the regular girl's stuff to kicking tin cans in the road and playing ball hockey. True it is that my family and friends had to adapt things somewhat for me to play with them but despite this I had a world of fun.

If you are thinking of giving a toy to a blind child then please, please do not think twice about giving them something that they can certainly play with. Anything that does not include technology that is. Anything from dolls to doll houses, toy soldiers to toy cars, and so on. How do blind kids play with toys if they are unable to see? They use the touch and feel technique.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and spread my message to others that yes indeed! Blind kids can and do play with toys. Here is some contact info for you to check out.
Connie Leblond
Assistive Technology Center LLC
8880-723-5011 Ext. 1
www.atechcenter.net

The problem with patience

Greetings! I'm Scott Savoy, managing editor at
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Well, June is just marching along and it's another gorgeous weekend shaping
up.
Today, our president Donna J. Jodhan has a really great editorial on the
problem with patience; something we can all do more with.
I wish you a great weekend.

+++++++++++++++
The problem with patience
By Donna J. Jodhan

There seems to be a definite problem with patience these days. There used
to be a time when patience seemed to be a virtue, but not anymore. In days
gone by, many of us seemed to have more than enough patience to go around.
We had time to speak to each other, write to each other, and to socialize
with each other.

We had more than enough patience to help each other, explain things to each
other, listen to each other, empathize with each other, and stand up for
each other. In short, up until not too long ago, we had more than enough
patience to go around to cover each other's back. Not anymore! Patience
seems to be a thing of the past.

We seem to be woefully short on patience these days. We lose patience when
babies cry for more than a minute. We no longer seem to have the patience
to explain things to each other. We don't have enough patience to deal with
long lines and queues, heavy traffic, long or detailed emails, long or in
depth conversations, and frustrating phone calls. We no longer seem to have
the patience for tolerance, respect, or discipline.

Whatever happened to patience? Is it because maybe and just maybe, we have
gotten ahead of ourselves? We have become a bit too selfish for our own
good? We need to bring patience back and make it a priority. What the
world needs now is patience, sweet patience!


I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would
be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna's blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca

Touch screen technology not for me

Touch screen technology is growing by leaps and bounds but sad to say, I am
unable to take advantage of it and as this technology continues on its merry
way I am going to be left behind. More and more hand-held devices are using
touch screen technology and as things stand, blind persons are already
behind when it comes to being able to use mainstream hand-held devices. So,
what does all of this mean for blind persons? Nothing more but more
challenges for us to face and more of being shut out of advancing
technology.

In order to use touch screen technology, one has to be able to see where
they need to touch on the screen and we as blind persons are unable to do
so. In addition to hand-held devices, there are other things that touch
screen technology is being deployed for. Such as, menus on microwaves,
VCRs, and appliances and gadgets that requires the user to use menus to set
up programs, clocks, and so on. Some video games are also using touch
screen technology and I would not be surprised if in the future banking
machines go the same way.

I hope and pray that manufacturers are listening and that they do something
to keep us in the loop. Not just blind persons, but those who are afflicted
with diseases that prevent them from using their hands to do things.
Persons who suffer from such disabling diseases as MS, Parkinson's, CP, and
so on. If you would like to know more about how blind persons are unable to
use touch screen technology then please visit www.acb.org or www.nfb.org.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a
terrific day and week ahead and urging you to go out there and help to
encourage manufacturers to make touch screen technology more available and
accessible to blind persons.

The next utopia

Greetings! I'm Christian Robicheau, assistant editor at
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.
Today, I have a very thoughtful editorial to present to you from our
president Donna J. Jodhan. I hope you find it interesting reading and I
wish you a great June weekend.

++++++++++++++
The next utopia
By Donna J. Jodhan

So much has been and continues to be said about certain countries being the
choice of home for millions of North American retirees.
Mexico seems to be the front runner with Panama running a strong second
followed by others but what about the Caribbean?
Could the Caribbean be the next utopia for millions of North American
retirees?
With a chain of islands that sit like tiny emeralds in a blue sea, The
caribbean may very well be poised to become home for millions upon their
retirement.

True it is that the Caribbean may not be as well developed when it comes to
suchthings as classy and comfortable facilities, health care, and medical
services but there is no reason why this cannot change. With the advent of
the Internet, along with those who are eager to start and expand their
businesses, the Caribbean could be the ideal solution to finding homes
for millions of retirees who are in the market for homes outside of North
America ; especially homes that lie in the sunny south. The Caribbean is no
stranger to tourism so it will not be too big a step to offer alternatives
of sunny retirement spots to North American retirees.

There are some islands that are a bit more advanced than others when it
comes to the provision of modern facilities. Barbados, St. Martin, St.
Lucia, Grenada, and Antigua are just a few to be named.
The Caribbean is still very much untouched, and unexplored when it comes to
the development of retirement facilities. The Caribbean has one major
advantage in that it lies close to the United States and is quite accessible
by air.
However, before anyone decides to take a more serious look at the Caribbean
as the next utopia for North American retirees, there are certain facts that
need to be addressed.
Here is a short list that is by no means complete.

Modern medical facilities need to be developed.
Modern and comfortable retirement complexes need to be designed and built.
Appropriate infrastructures need to be put in place on those islands whose
governments choose to adopt this concept.
People of the Caribbean islands need to be trained with regard to how to
become good hosts to retirees.
Above all, the problems of drugs and crime need to be dealt with.

The people of the Caribbean are naturally very friendly so it should not be
too difficult to introduce this idea to them. This is not a new concept;
many experts have already been promoting this idea so we shall wait to see
how far it goes.


I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would
be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna's blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca

Should You Need A Translation Pamphlet To Shop For Food?

Are you a person with a disability looking for a fast growing and exciting
career?
Have you been downsized because you believe that your disability played a
part in your downsizing?
Are you having difficulty finding a career where you can work from home
because it is more convenient for you given your disability?
If your response to any of these questions is a resounding yes, then
Sterling Creations would like to help you get started.
The fast growing field of foreign languages is in dire need of good
translators, interpreters, teachers, proof readers editors and writers, plus
more.
Each week, we will provide you with news from this arena and we hope that
you can use it to help you get started.
If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact us.


Should You Need A Translation Pamphlet To Shop For Food?
By Donna J. Jodhan

This is not meant to be a funny question; it is for real but there are many
who would agree that more and more, it is becoming difficult for us to
interpret the labels and brochures that advertise and describe the foods
that we interact with in our supermarkets. True it is that English is
normally the de facto or go to language but with all of the different types
of ethnic foods on our shelves today, we certainly could do with some help
in the translation area.

Now, here is a perfect idea for someone who is thinking of entering the
translation field. How is this for the naming of a new type of career; a
food label translator! This idea could easily be taken and developed into a
full fledged career and I'll tell you what: With more persons developing an
appetite for ethnic foods and foods outside of their own culture, there is
going to be the development of a natural demand by consumers to have labels
on these types of foods translated to and from various languages. The
translation of brochures would only naturally follow.
So how about it? Please see my reference below.

+++++++++++++++
Should You Need A Translation Pamphlet To Shop For Food?
Gothamist
into tons of languages (Chinese, Korean, Spanish, etc). ... English is the
'de facto' the language, not 'de jure' as we don't have any official
languages. ...
Read more at:
http://gothamist.com/2011/02/27/should_you_need_a_translation_pamph.php#


I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day.
Donna J. Jodhan is the president of Sterling Creations
Now you can view blogs and editorials written by Donna at:
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com (Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility
for all)
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca (monthly editorial on issues
concerning diversity)
http://www.onestopbookcafe.com (under the café talk link)
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm Weekly features on Hhow to
increase your success with your business ventures)
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm (Weekly features on how to
increase your success with your business ventures)

Touch screen technology not for me

Touch screen technology is growing by leaps and bounds but sad to say, I am unable to take advantage of it and as this technology continues on its merry way I am going to be left behind. More and more hand-held devices are using touch screen technology and as things stand, blind persons are already behind when it comes to being able to use mainstream hand-held devices. So, what does all of this mean for blind persons? Nothing more but more challenges for us to face and more of being shut out of advancing technology.

In order to use touch screen technology, one has to be able to see where they need to touch on the screen and we as blind persons are unable to do so. In addition to hand-held devices, there are other things that touch screen technology is being deployed for. Such as, menus on microwaves, VCRs, and appliances and gadgets that requires the user to use menus to set up programs, clocks, and so on. Some video games are also using touch screen technology and I would not be surprised if in the future banking machines go the same way.

I hope and pray that manufacturers are listening and that they do something to keep us in the loop. Not just blind persons, but those who are afflicted with diseases that prevent them from using their hands to do things. Persons who suffer from such disabling diseases as MS, Parkinson’s, CP, and so on. If you would like to know more about how blind persons are unable to use touch screen technology then please visit www.acb.org or www.nfb.org.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and week ahead and urging you to go out there and help to encourage manufacturers to make touch screen technology more available and accessible to blind persons.

Recreational sports; a benefit to the blind

Greetings! I'm Scott Savoy, managing editor at http://www.sterlingcreations.ca
This week, we are a bit early with our editorial of the week as we will be away this coming weekend.
Our editorial for this week is about recreational sports for blind persons as seen through the eyes of our president Donna J. Jodhan.
We hope you find it interesting and thought provoking.
Have a great weekend.

+++++++++++++++
Recreational sports; a benefit to the blind
By Donna J. Jodhan

As an avid ice skater and as someone who has recently become more interested in cross country skiing, I have decided to do my best to push the benefits of recreational sports for blind persons. Here in Toronto where I live, I have found it extremely difficult to find ways to engage in recreational sports and I am definitely not alone in my opinion.

Over the past year, I have spoken to several other blind persons who feel the same way. We have approached countless sporting organizations, volunteer groups, church groups, plus individuals and at the end of the day it is all the same message that we seem to be getting. It appears that the Federal government is more than willing to fund competitive sports for persons with disabilities, including blind and sight impaired persons but when it comes to recreational sports, there seems to be a huge hole; something like nothing beyond the deep blue sea or horizon.

Maybe it's time that we start to campaign for the benefits of recreational sports for blind and sight impaired persons. With a rapidly aging population, many of whom will probably lose varying degrees of vision along the way, it may be time for the various organizations and governmental bodies to start putting meaningful recreational sports programs into place. I hope that there are others out there who will hear my call and join the chorus.


I'm Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna's blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all
http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com
Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures
http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm
Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog
A monthly editorial on issues on diversity
http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca

How I do my banking

There is no set way for a blind person to do their banking but here is how I do it: First, it is my preference not to use a banking machine. There are several talking banking machines in my area but I prefer to stay away from these. I go to the bank to do what most sighted persons use banking machines for; withdrawals and deposits. In addition, I go to the bank when I need to carry out electronic transfers. I use telephone banking for everything else.

I really like using the phone to conduct most of my banking business because I can do it from the comfort of my home, at my convenience, and in total privacy. I can do it at any time of the day and from anywhere. I do not use Internet banking because it is my preference not to do so. I know of several blind persons who use online banking but often time I find that the online banking facilities of some of our financial institutions are not very user friendly to blind persons. I receive my statements in braille and so I am able to keep tabs on my accounts.

Whenever I need to communicate with my investment adviser, I do so via email and he is very good at providing me with a lot of details in his emails. Whenever I need to have cheques written, I have my mom or a trusted friend do it or I go to the bank. I then use a signature guide to sign my name. My banking institution has also provided me with cheques that contain raised lines so that I can write my own cheques. The thing with this is however that I may not always know if my pen has enough ink in it and as a result I may sometimes write cheques that are difficult to decipher because of the faded ink.

There are companies that provide services to financial institutions so that customers can receive their statements in any of the following formats; braille, large print, or diskette. Visit www.tbase.com to learn more.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and help educate the rest of the world about how blind persons do their banking.